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WILLIAM C. YOUNG
the acquisition of information about the hormones and the other responses they stimulate.
Explanations for this fact may be that until recently relatively few
investigators were interested in the hormones and behavior, and that
few investigators trained to probe into the biochemical aspects of the
subject have chosen to do so. The invitation to prepare this chapter is
taken as a sign of unfolding interest on the part of the latter group.
Acceptance of the invitation may be taken as an expression of confidence
that, if an overall view can be presented, a larger number of biochemists
will be stimulated to join forces with the psychologists, ethologists,
physiologists, and morphologists in their investigation of the many
problems pressing for solution.
Behavior is mediated by tissues, much if not most of it by the highly
specialized neural and muscular tissues. It is not surprising therefore
that methods for the study of the hormones and behavior have much in
common with the methods for the study of the hormones and any tissue
responses, that many of the same safeguards and precautions must be
taken, and that in certain important instances the rules of action of the
hormones appear to be the same. For example, in females of a number of
species, the preparation of the genital tract and of the neural tissues
mediating mating behavior for full functioning depends on the synergistic action of estrogen and progesterone. Whether behavior or some
other activity of the organism is being studied, allowance must be made
for differences in the age and sex of the animals, for species differences,
strain differences, and differences between individuals. The nutritional
state, manner of confinement, temperature, character of the illumination
in the case of species normally nocturnal in their habits (1), season,
stage in the reproductive cycle, and general health of the animal including the possibility of even rather subtle endocrine imbalance must be
considered. Also important for research in these two fields of endocrinology are glandular ablation prior to hormone administration, the manner
of hormone administration (la), the use of pure preparations, accurate
measurement of the administered hormones, attention to thresholds, and
the use of physiological rather than pharmacological dosages. The influence of tissue responsiveness must be evaluated. Hormone antagonisms,
synergisms, and facilitation often are the same, whether effects on
behavior or effects on other vital activities are being followed. As we will
see later when more of the background has been established, these similarities are of more than ordinary importance. When for some reason
clarification is not given by data obtained from behavioral studies, and
interpretation is difficult, the gap may be filled by referring to data
obtained from morphological studies, and vice versa.
WILLIAM C. YOUNG
the acquisition of information about the hormones and the other responses they stimulate.
Explanations for this fact may be that until recently relatively few
investigators were interested in the hormones and behavior, and that
few investigators trained to probe into the biochemical aspects of the
subject have chosen to do so. The invitation to prepare this chapter is
taken as a sign of unfolding interest on the part of the latter group.
Acceptance of the invitation may be taken as an expression of confidence
that, if an overall view can be presented, a larger number of biochemists
will be stimulated to join forces with the psychologists, ethologists,
physiologists, and morphologists in their investigation of the many
problems pressing for solution.
Behavior is mediated by tissues, much if not most of it by the highly
specialized neural and muscular tissues. It is not surprising therefore
that methods for the study of the hormones and behavior have much in
common with the methods for the study of the hormones and any tissue
responses, that many of the same safeguards and precautions must be
taken, and that in certain important instances the rules of action of the
hormones appear to be the same. For example, in females of a number of
species, the preparation of the genital tract and of the neural tissues
mediating mating behavior for full functioning depends on the synergistic action of estrogen and progesterone. Whether behavior or some
other activity of the organism is being studied, allowance must be made
for differences in the age and sex of the animals, for species differences,
strain differences, and differences between individuals. The nutritional
state, manner of confinement, temperature, character of the illumination
in the case of species normally nocturnal in their habits (1), season,
stage in the reproductive cycle, and general health of the animal including the possibility of even rather subtle endocrine imbalance must be
considered. Also important for research in these two fields of endocrinology are glandular ablation prior to hormone administration, the manner
of hormone administration (la), the use of pure preparations, accurate
measurement of the administered hormones, attention to thresholds, and
the use of physiological rather than pharmacological dosages. The influence of tissue responsiveness must be evaluated. Hormone antagonisms,
synergisms, and facilitation often are the same, whether effects on
behavior or effects on other vital activities are being followed. As we will
see later when more of the background has been established, these similarities are of more than ordinary importance. When for some reason
clarification is not given by data obtained from behavioral studies, and
interpretation is difficult, the gap may be filled by referring to data
obtained from morphological studies, and vice versa.